WARSAW — The annual Kosciusko County 4-H Livestock Auction closes out the year for those 4-H’ers involved in livestock projects. This year’s sale began at 10 a.m. Friday with the sale of champions immediately followed by the general livestock auction.

This year there were 16 grand and reserve grand champion animals sold, along with the annual 4-H king and queen kisses.

The 4-H queen kiss was a reversal role from last year’s royalty kiss auction. Reagan Rowland, 4-H queen received a kiss from boyfriend Jackson Templin, after he brought half a cement block into the arena for Rowland to stand on. Last year when Templin was 4-H king, Rowland was given the honors of receiving the king’s kiss. The kiss went for $3,625.

Ryan Zorn, 4-H king, brought a special coffee mug and a bouquet of flowers for the recipient of the king’s kiss. While it was suggested Peg Zimmerman be the recipient, she gladly gave the king a free kiss. Kelly Heckaman, county extension director, received the honors. The king’s kiss went for $1,000.

The auction also brought with it condolences to the family of Buni Leininger, who died Sunday, July 7. She and her husband Bill have been affiliated with the county fair for more than 40 years, and expressed continued support to Kevin Deardorff, announcer, who was seriously injured in an accident recently.

Preliminary Numbers

Support from various businesses, groups and individuals were shown to the 4-H’ers during the sale of champions. Here are the preliminary results:

Ariel Ross, a fifth-year 4-H’er with the Sidney Triple S Club and daughter of James Ross and Sheena Wilson, South Whitley, sold her grand champion rabbit meat pen for $700.

The reserve grand champion rabbit meat pen, owned by Katie Schmidt, a nine-year 4-H’er with the Leesburg Mighty Farmers and daughter of James and April Schmidt, Warsaw, was sold for $1,500.

Valerie Messmore, daughter of Brent and Renea Messmore, Pierceton, sold her supreme champion dairy cow for $4,200. Messmore is a 10-year 4-H’er and a member of the Horse and Pony Club.

The proceeds from the sale of Kylie Evans’ reserve supreme dairy cow, $1,600, was given back to the dairy barn. Evans is a five-year 4-H’er and the daughter of Ron and Amy Evans, Warsaw. She is a member of the Milford Helping Hands.

The grand champion barrow brought the highest auction amount in the sale of champions. The barrow, owned by Allie Ayers, brought $13,150. She is a third-year 4-H’er and the daughter of Gabe and Jessica Ayers, Warsaw. She is a member of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers.

Ethan Garza, an eight-year 4’H’er and member of MIlford Helping Hands, sold his reserve grand champion barrow for $5,130. He is the son of Sherrena Garza-Beer and Fred Garza, Milford.

The grand champion specialty market goat, owned by Martin, sold for $3,750. He is a first-year 4-H’er and son of Rob and Megan Martin, Warsaw. He is a member of the Lucky Lassies & Lads.

Delaney Shriver, daughter of Dave and Cami Shriver, Akron, sold her grand champion dairy market goat for $1,200. She is a first-year 4-H’er with the Claypool Classics.

Milk products from the grand champion dairy goat were purchased for $1,400. Jason Moore, son of Tim and Janet Moore, Warsaw, and a second-year 4-H’er with the Goat Club and Pierceton Hayseeds, is the owner.

Julia Stover sold her grand champion broilers for $2,100. She is the daughter of Chelsea Stover, Leesburg and a second year member with the Milford Helping Hands.

The grand champion market ducks was sold by Lauryn Rhodes for $1,575. She is an eight-year 4-H’er with the KCK9s and daughter of Sean and Deb Rhodes, Warsaw.

Adam de la Fuente, son of Jamie and Stacey de la Fuente, Leesburg, sold his grand champion turkey for $1,400. He is a first-year 4-H’er with the Syracuse Community Hands 4-H Club.

The grand champion dairy steer, owned by Jared Beer, sold for $2,000. He is a six-year member of the Milford Helping Hands and the son of Marc and Jodi Beer, Milford.

The reserve champion dairy steer, owned by Justin Beer, sold for $2,400. He is a six-year 4-H’er with the Milford Helping Hands and son of Marc and Jodi Beer, Milford.

Noah Knepp had the grand champion beef steer, which he sold for $13,000. Ten percent of the sale went to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. He is a sixth-year 4-H’er with the Pierceton Hayseeds and son of Andy and Shelly Knepp, Warsaw.

The final champion to be sold for the morning was the reserve grand champion beef steer owned by Jackson Templin. Templin received $10,500 for the steer. He is a nine-year 4-H’er with the Milford Helping Hands and son of Terry and Karen Templin, Milford.

The grand champion and reserve grand champion market lambs along with the grand and reserve grand champion dairy calf feeder steers were not sold at the auction.

The reserve grand champion specialty goat, reserve grand champion market turkey, reserve grand market chickens, reserve grand market ducks were sold during the regular livestock auctions.

The grand champion and reserve grand champion market lambs are owned by Jordyn Leininger. The grand champion dairy calf feeder steer is owned by Justin Beer and the reserve grand champion dairy calf feeder steer s owned by Jace Beer.

The reserve grand champion specialty goat is owned by Kenlee Grady. The reserve grand champion market turkey is owned by by Kaleb Kline. The reserve grand champion market chickens are owned by Caleb Wilson and the reserve grand champion market ducks are owned by Cora Ransbottom.

The general auction listed 462 animals and/or products being auctioned off. According to the sale bill there were 16 lots of rabbits, 40 lots of dairy products, 83 lots of swine. 29 specialty goat lots, 27 dairy goat lots, 16 goat products, 50 lots of sheep, 137 lots of poultry, 43 dairy calf feeder steers, seven dairy steers and 32 beef steers.